Salary distribution
Where Virginia environmental scientists and specialists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $65,320 and $99,630, with a median of $78,140.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Virginia: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 12 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $92,788. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 5 | $65,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 5 | $120,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 2 | $1,458,646 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Virginia. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University | Research Associate | 2 | $80,020 |
| ICF Incorporated, LLC | Senior Public Policy Specialist | 2 | $79,945 |
| ClimateWorks Foundation, Inc. | Program Manager, Transportation | 1 | $126,505 |
| ALL4 Inc. | Managing Consultant | 1 | $120,000 |
| 1st CDL Training Center of Nova | Principal Environmental and Sustainability Advisor | 1 | $72,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy | NCS Learning Network Manager | 1 | $105,000 |
| The Water Institute of the Gulf | Flood Risk Research Scientist | 1 | $125,000 |
| Avanti Corporation | Environmental Science and Planning Specialist | 1 | $64,314 |
| Adviser Compliance Associates, LLC | Principal Consultant, ESG Advisory | 1 | $2,827,292 |
| The University of Virginia | Research Associate | 1 | $65,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Research Associate at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University$70,040BlacksburgWage Level IIDecided Jul 22, 2025I-200-25196-175130
- Program Manager, Transportation at ClimateWorks Foundation, Inc.$126,505FairfaxWage Level IIDecided Jul 22, 2025I-200-25196-177153
- Managing Consultant at ALL4 Inc.$120,000HerndonWage Level IIDecided Jul 17, 2025I-200-25192-167560
- Senior Public Policy Specialist at ICF Incorporated, LLC$95,576RestonWage Level IDecided Jul 14, 2025I-200-25189-157512
- Energy and Sustainability Researcher at ICF Incorporated, LLC$64,314RestonWage Level IDecided May 27, 2025I-200-25139-993186
- Principal Environmental and Sustainability Advisor at 1st CDL Training Center of Nova$72,000AlexandriaWage Level IDecided May 16, 2025I-200-25129-959107
- NCS Learning Network Manager at The Nature Conservancy$105,000ArlingtonWage Level IIDecided May 6, 2025I-200-25119-918812
- Flood Risk Research Scientist at The Water Institute of the Gulf$125,000AshburnWage Level IIDecided Apr 18, 2025I-200-25101-855915
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists pay by experience level in Virginia
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Virginia, by industry
Median offered wage across 12 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $120,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | ICF Incorporated, LLC | 7 | $120,000 |
| Education | Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University | 4 | $71,020 |
| Nonprofit and civic | The Nature Conservancy | 1 | $105,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Virginia over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.5 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Deductive Reasoning
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Problem Sensitivity
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Science
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Complex Problem Solving
Technical
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Communicate scientific or technical information to the public, organizations, or internal audiences through oral briefings, written documents, workshops, conferences, training sessions, or public hearings.
- 02
Monitor effects of pollution or land degradation and recommend means of prevention or control.
- 03
Collect, synthesize, analyze, manage, and report environmental data, such as pollution emission measurements, atmospheric monitoring measurements, meteorological or mineralogical information, or soil or water samples.
- 04
Review and implement environmental technical standards, guidelines, policies, and formal regulations that meet all appropriate requirements.
- 05
Provide scientific or technical guidance, support, coordination, or oversight to governmental agencies, environmental programs, industry, or the public.
- 06
Evaluate violations or problems discovered during inspections to determine appropriate regulatory actions or to provide advice on the development and prosecution of regulatory cases.
- 07
Process and review environmental permits, licenses, or related materials.
- 08
Conduct environmental audits or inspections or investigations of violations.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+4.4%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in Virginia
Metro-level salary data for environmental scientists and specialists in major Virginia metropolitan areas.
- Richmond$78,140
- Virginia Beach$76,460
Compare Environmental Scientists and Specialists pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Virginia?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Virginia is $78,140.
- How does Virginia compare to the national median for Environmental Scientists and Specialists?
- The Virginia median is -3.7% versus the BLS national figure of $81,159.
- What is the salary range for Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Virginia?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $56,310 and the 90th-percentile at $128,940, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Environmental Scientists and Specialists a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.4% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Environmental Scientists and Specialists?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.